You know you're in North Dakota when...

Nov. 21, 2016

Hi, everyone!

This week's email will be (at least partially) in list format.

When you're in North Dakota...

1) Even though there are blizzards in South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, and half the rest of the United States, AND it's 10-20 degrees with windchill, it still looks like this outside:

​Sister Harrington is not happy about it, and neither am I. If it's going to be this cold, it might as well be white.

2) You meet all sorts, especially when talking religion. We taught a man this week--the husband of a part-member family--who is Pentacostal. We are going to need to talk to him about how to pray. Pentacostals are very loud and shouty and emotional in their prayers. We also met a father and son both called Juan who are working here while their families are in Arizona. AND a part-member family that we didn't know existed. That one was a miracle for me. We walked in and immediately I registered the presence of two cats, a dog, and a whole bunch of cigarette smoke and thought, "Great. I'm doomed." Incredibly, though, my asthma didn't react at all through the whole lesson. Either I'm getting used to the allergens, or the Lord was blessing me. Maybe both. We also met a man on the street who was doing some amazing martial arts type moves with a baton that was lit on fire on both ends. He did a special performance just for us, right there on the sidewalk. Definitely a highlight of the week.

3) Sometimes you get to hold baby bunnies during a lesson with a member. And it crawls up your shirt to snuggle on your shoulder. (This particular member owned four of these bunnies, plus two adult bunnies, two cats, a big dog, and a whole bunch of chickens and ducks. Welcome to farm country. :)

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3) You go outside wearing tights, wool socks, fleece-lined leggings, a wool underskirt, normal dress clothes, mittens, a down overcoat, winter boots and a hat--and still the wind manages to get in there somewhere and make your legs cold. I am so incredibly grateful for winter clothing. Also hot chocolate.

4) Because you have no hills, you put your town name and logo on water towers.

5) Sometimes you try everyone you can think of and NO ONE IS HOME. I don't know how it is possible, but everyone seems to go to the grocery store or something right during our contacting time. Ah, well...

6) And sometimes you have pizza parties at the apartment during lunch hour. :)

​7) Santa comes to do charity appearances at your local shopping center (in this case, the Prairie Hills Mall--an oxymoron if I ever heard one) and has Mormon missionaries be his elves. 

​We had a ton of fun being Santa's helpers for a day. We didn't get to do as much contacting as we would have liked--Santa distracts a little from the gospel message, I suppose. Even so, the missionaries have done this for the last five or so years, and the volunteers think very highly of us and enjoy working with us. This is our Dickinson 2nd Ward family Christmas picture:

8) Sometimes you meet people who are not very kind. We got our first actual slammed door this week from a woman who did not look very happy that we rang her doorbell. Just an example.

9) And then sometimes you get to meet incredible people who make life a delight. For instance, Sister Pemberton. She was transferred this week to Detroit Lakes, the area Sister Harrington used to serve in. She has been such a good friend to me, and I miss her dearly. Taking her place in the 1st ward is Sister Luker, who used to be Sister Harrington's companion in Detroit Lakes, and she is just a blast. She makes me laugh every time we talk and is always ready to talk after a long day. Sister Severe as well--she has apparently decided that I am going to marry her brother. She decided this when I first arrived, it seems, but only told me this last week. I would not be opposed to this course of action. :) Sister Harrington continues to brighten and bless my every day. The more we talk, the more we have realized that we have had similar challenges in the past--though much worse on her part. Because she has experienced those things, though, she has been able to support and help me in a way no one else could. It's a lot like the Atonement in that sense. Because Christ suffered our pains He knows how to help us, and because Sister Harrington suffered what she did, she knows how to help me--and many others besides. In addition to these amazing sisters, there is also every member of the Dickinson 2nd Ward. They are incredible people, and I am so honored to be able to be one of them for a while.

That is my report for the week. The temperature is dropping. Every morning when I go out, there is a part of my brain thinking, "It's cold out there!" (Name the movie). I am bundling up and gaining more and more appreciation for my handcart pioneer ancestors. I will be spending Thanksgiving this week with the Hollis, the family that had us over for Halloween, and I can't wait. We are also having a ward Turkey bowl that morning, so I'll be right at home. I will make my Thankful Turkey this afternoon and send you pictures next week, along with documentation of the holiday festivities.

Also, a side note/shameless plug: Check out the 25 Days in 25 Ways challenge on lds.org. All I can say is DO IT. Every day has a different theme ("Jesus helped others bear their burdens, and so can you" or "Jesus prayed for others and so can you," etc.) and suggestions for acts of service you can do that day. Get started on December 1st, and please share with me those missionary and service experiences! I would love to hear all about it.

I love you all so much. Especially at this Thanksgiving time, I need to tell you all how grateful I am for you. I love you all so much. I couldn't do this without you. Your letters and emails and prayers have kept me going on my hardest days. I am going to miss you all this week especially, but I know that I am where I need to be. I will be with you in spirit. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love always,

Sister Pullan, reporting live from the NoDak :)